yeah, the only time the screen is full screen is with the rear camera. All the other scenerios i.e. entertainment, NAV, etc. is 2/3. Thanks for the help guys and hoping that BMW gives this option in the future or reverses it because I remember it was possible when I first got my vehicle.

Doh!!! They forgot to include the code to turn it back to full screen:banghead: :throw:

I bet a couple of emails to BMW about it would encourage them to include a fix in the next software update...That is, of course, if it isn't by design.

Mine too will NOT do full screen with the Navigation/map. I either have 2 sizes of the identical map, the map and some random information I don't need, or the option of having an ugly blacked out box.

Our 2007 750Li has full screen, as did my 2005 M3 and all 3 of our 2004 X5s. I personally hate the split screen.

Could someone update me on where this is going about the split screen?
I have a 2004 4.4i sport X5 and test drove a 2008 yesterday. Previously I have gone with a Garmin unit (2720) mainly because the maps have some incredible details but also because the announcements are (usually) accurate and include information I want (which often means a street name). I drive two long trips in places not known to me and so I want to hear instructions and not have to look down at the map itself unless I'm going under 90 mph.
However, while I like the portable unit since it comes in handy with rental cars, I am at a point where I would like a factor unit if BMW has improved their software and maps.

Not entirely sure what you are saying...But the split screen is just a preference thing. I prefer to not have split screen. We all remember the dealer telling/making us change the option to split screen during the run down of the truck, but we are all finding out later on, that there is no way to change it back to single screen mode. At least, that's my experience with it...

I can't say for sure that I like the interface....But so far the navigation and voice guidance has been stellar IMO... You can crank the voice guidance up as much as you like...Which brings up the only dislike I have with the voice....To change the volume of the voice guidance, you have to wait for it to say something. There is no menu(that I could find) to pre-determine the volume...You have to wait for it to say something, then raise/lower it with the steering wheel's volume control..

My only other complaint, is that I have yet to figure out how to do a POI or a vicinity search...I've fallen in love with these features of my Pioneer Avic Z2, in which can all be done by voice command....I can tell it....POI search, or Vicinity search....Say Walmart...and dependant on what kind of city/town I'm in, it will usually come up with something...select it, and say set as destination...

Idrive main screen --> Navigation --> Information tab (across the top to the right).

As you saying that if you don't split the screen at first then the GPS will always be full screen when it is active?
No POI search?
Can you save a destination once it has been entered? Garmin would call this a "favorite".
I'm still concerned about maps of small cities, saying like Falcon, NC.

I never saw that GPS in full screen as mine was on the showroom floor where it couldn't get signal. It was also one of the very first things the salesman touched on during the run though.

I haven't figured out the POI search. If there even is one. I'll have to check that out later this evening. This past weekend, a good frind of mine was in a bad accident and rushed to a remote Hospital in the inner-city. I tried for a whole 5 minutes to figure out how to find Tulane Hospital via the GPS, but got frustrated and turned to my Iphone's Google Maps to find it. My Pioneer is stupid easy to use, in comparison. Probably nothng that reading the maual wouldn't help with.

You can save destinations. And they are easy to get to, non like finding the POI search....

It's very good with small roads in small cities/towns, in which I live in...